Study Links Weight and Cause-Specific Mortality in Men with RA
Weight loss and body mass index (BMI) were associated with mortality outcomes in men with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a recent study.
The study included 1600 US veterans with rheumatoid arthritis who were followed until their death or through 2013. Participants were categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese, and weight loss was calculated either as a rate of change over 13 months or as a cumulative percentage. In addition, the National Death Index was used to obtain cause of death and vital status.
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A total of 303 deaths occurred, 95 of which were cardiovascular related, 74 were cancer related, and 46 were respiratory related.
The researchers found that the highest weight loss rate and weight loss percentage were associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality and cancer mortality. Likewise, underweight BMI was associated with a near 3-fold increased risk of respiratory mortality.
Multivariable competing-risks regression models showed that time-varying BMI and weight loss did not substantially alter individual associations for cardiovascular and cancer mortality. However, the association between respiratory mortality and weight loss percent was attenuated by BMI adjustments.
Conversely, overweight BMI was found to be protective for cardiovascular mortality.
“Both BMI and weight loss are predictors of cause-specific mortality in [rheumatoid arthritis]. Weight loss is a strong predictor of cardiovascular and cancer mortality, while underweight BMI is a stronger predictor of respiratory mortality,” the researcher concluded.
—Melissa Weiss
Reference:
England BR, Baker JF, Sayles H, et al. Body mass index, weight loss, and cause-specific mortality in rheumatoid arthritis [published online April 20, 2017]. Arthritis Care Res. doi:10.1002/acr.23258.
